What to Keep and What to Toss When Moving

Posted March 26, 2018byDowells Moving Storage

Moving to a new home is such an exciting time in life, but can seem impossible when looking at the unbelievable amount of stuff you have to take with you. Make your move a little easier by process of elimination: what to keep and what to toss!

Less stuff will help you move out for less money and with less stress.

Making the decision of what is going with you to the new house and what you’ll be saying farewell to at the old house is important when it comes to your wallet and your sanity.

Save money and make money simultaneously

The fewer items you take with you, the less overall weight you’ll have in your shipment of your belongings. A professional moving company is a great asset to take advantage of, especially when it comes to your heavy furniture. The less stuff you have to pack in the moving truck, the lower your moving cost will be.

The Moving Blog recommends holding a garage sale before you move to make some profit off of your unwanted items! Why not put those belongings to good use one last time before you go? This will ensure some money flowing back into your moving budget, as well as less to pack or dispose of.

Keep in mind that if you can’t sell it, it doesn’t mean you should keep it. Take everything that is left over from your garage sale and inspect the quality. If your items are in good condition, find a place near your old home where you can donate those items before you move. If there are rips, stains or broken items, consider researching how to recycle them instead of throwing them out.

Moving less means packing less

You can do yourself a huge favor by getting rid of the clutter and saving your future self from some unnecessary stress. These items that you probably haven’t touched within the last year will probably go untouched at the new house as well, despite your optimistic thinking that you’ll utilize your old college mini fridge. Getting rid of these things will save you time and space when packing up the moving truck. You’ll be grateful when the time comes to unpack and set up your new home.

What to keep when moving

It happens often that something essential gets lost in the shuffle of moving and finds its way in the ‘toss’ pile. You may want to make a list of your must-take items to ensure that you remember to take them to the new house with you!

Electronics and appliances not already at the new house

Some must-take items on your list should include the possessions that you’ve invested in and will need at your new place. Your television set, your washer and dryer, as well as your stereo system should be at the top of your list.

Anything of value

This could mean items that have monetary value or sentimental value. This list of valuables may seem obvious, but will ensure that you take the important things with you when you go. Heirlooms, antiques and items that you have an emotional attachment to should stay in the keep pile.

What to toss when moving

There are a couple of questions you need to ask yourself when sorting through your belongings in order to help you ween out the unnecessary items. Does this item have a spot in my new home? Am I holding on to this because I can or is it replaceable? Is it valuable or practical?

Forgotten items

Clearly you forgot you ever owned these items, so what is the point in keeping them? These things usually accumulate during different hobbies, so consider tossing the ukulele you promised you would learn how to play or the outrageous amount of yarn that you were going to make into scarves during your knitting phase.

Most of your food

Not many of the items in your kitchen will make it to the new house successfully. Food can be lost in translation when moving and takes up space that could be used for essential items in the moving truck. This gives you a great excuse to throw a going away party! You can say goodbye to all of your friends, family, and neighbors and cater the event with the perishable items you’ve been storing in your freezer or anything that isn’t shelf-stable.

Excess items

This means that mini fridge we mentioned earlier from your old college days should probably get the boot if you have a perfectly fine working fridge ready in your new home. Also, go through your children’s toys and toss anything that they don’t play with anymore. These excessive items will take up space that you can’t afford to lose.

When you’ve finally sorted all of your belongings, it’s time to think about how you’re getting your ‘keep’ pile to your new house safely. At Dowell’s Moving & Storage, we have over 90 years of experience as a full-service moving company. We provide organized and efficient packing and then our professional movers will take it from there, transporting your belongings securely to your new home. Give us a call at 250-361-9866 today to get a quote!

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